»Under the patronage of Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Mawla, Assiut University organizes awareness and training events to enhance safety and crisis/disaster preparedness as part of the "Your Safety First" initiative.
The Office of the Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development at the Faculty of Sports Sciences—under the patronage of Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Mawla—organized a series of awareness and training events as part of the "Your Safety First" initiative. Held in collaboration with the university’s Occupational Safety and Health Department and the Civil Protection Department, the events aimed to raise awareness regarding safety and prevention measures and to enhance the preparedness of the university community to handle crises and emergencies. The program included an awareness lecture, a panel discussion, a workshop, and practical training sessions.
The events were held under the supervision of Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Adawy, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development; Dr. Emad Samir, Dean of the Faculty of Sports Sciences; Dr. Mostafa Ahmed Abdel-Wahab, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Sports Sciences for Community Service and Environmental Development; Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Baset Mohamed, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Specific Education for Community Service and Environmental Development (and Supervisor of the Occupational Safety and Health Department across university sectors and hospitals); and Major General Ibrahim Anous, Security Advisor to the University President.
The seminar was attended by Engineer Shaimaa Mohamed Qotb, Acting Director of the Occupational Safety and Health Department; Mr. Mohamed Abdel-Aal, Supervisor of Civil Protection at the university; and Mr. Hamdy El-Adawy, Faculty Secretary. Also in attendance were faculty members, teaching assistants, and administrative staff from the faculty, alongside personnel from the Occupational Safety and Health, Civil Protection, and University Security departments. Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Mawla emphasized that Assiut University attaches great importance to occupational health and safety, driven by its commitment to providing a safe and sustainable educational and work environment and to fostering a culture of prevention among its entire community.
He explained that the "Your Safety Comes First" initiative aligns with the university's strategy to promote a safety culture and enhance preparedness for handling risks and emergencies. This is achieved by raising awareness of preventive measures and best practices, thereby contributing to the protection of lives and property and embedding the concepts of security and safety as a shared responsibility requiring the concerted efforts of the entire university community.
For his part, Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Adawy noted that the "Your Safety Comes First" initiative falls within the strategy of Assiut University’s Community Service and Environmental Development Sector. The initiative aims to disseminate a culture of occupational health and safety across the university's various faculties, expand awareness regarding preventive measures, and underscore the importance of adhering to safety regulations within work and study environments.
He pointed out that the initiative exemplifies the integration of the university's various sectors in promoting preventive awareness and transforming safety concepts from theory into daily practices and sustainable institutional behavior. This aligns with the Egyptian state's direction toward upholding occupational health and safety standards and enhancing institutional readiness to manage crises and disasters. The events included a lecture by Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Adawy titled "Your Safety First," in which he addressed concepts of security, safety, and occupational health, as well as the procedures for achieving them. He emphasized the importance of fostering a culture of occupational safety and raising preventive awareness to mitigate risks, highlighting the need for all components of the university system to collaborate in maintaining a safe environment that supports the educational process and ensures the safety of individuals and facilities.
Dr. Adawy also discussed the role of governance in establishing an effective safety system. He highlighted key elements such as improving institutional management quality, supporting the public interest, adhering to laws and regulations regarding safety and occupational health, fostering a sense of individual responsibility toward the institution, and implementing merit-based criteria for selecting officials—alongside accountability and transparency. He noted that successful risk management is one of the most significant outcomes of implementing governance.
The initiative’s activities featured a panel discussion titled "Occupational Safety and Health: Between Ambition and Implementation." During the session, Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Baset Mohamed discussed mechanisms for implementing occupational safety and health requirements across various university sectors and the challenges associated with their practical application. He also reviewed practices and procedures that contribute to enhancing the safety system within university institutions.
Additionally, the events included a workshop on the practical aspects of inspections and monitoring in the field of occupational safety and health, presented by Engineer Shaimaa Mohamed Qotb. The workshop covered the practicalities of monitoring safety procedures, mechanisms for observation and evaluation, and the importance of field monitoring in identifying and proactively addressing potential hazards. The events also featured practical training on emergency response, conducted by Mr. Mohamed Abdel-Aal. This session aimed to familiarize participants with the necessary procedures during accidents or crises, safe evacuation methods, and how to handle emergencies quickly and systematically—all of which contribute to risk mitigation and the protection of lives and property.
For his part, Dr. Mostafa Ahmed Abdel-Wahab emphasized that the event aims to transform safety concepts from mere instructions and guidelines into a deeply rooted culture and daily practice. This approach enhances the university community's ability to confront crises with competence, awareness, and responsibility.
He explained that the "Your Safety First" initiative seeks to raise awareness regarding occupational health and safety principles and to highlight ways to prevent workplace hazards. These efforts positively impact the creation of a safe university environment that supports the quality of the educational process and ensures the highest safety standards within the college.
In the same context, Mr. Hamdy El-Adawy highlighted the event's importance in promoting awareness of safety and prevention measures and educating students and staff on the proper ways to handle emergencies. He stressed that continuous awareness-raising contributes to better decision-making during crises and adherence to evacuation and safety protocols within the buildings, thereby supporting a safe educational environment for all members of the community.The College.
